Memorial marker



W. M. OERTLIN MEMORIAL MARKER Dec. 30, 1952 Filed NOV. 22, 1946 IN VEN TOR. W. M. OERTLIN AT TORNEY G. F H

Patented Dec. 30, 1952 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to markers, and more particularly to a device for indicating a burial place.

Massive heavy markers of marble, granite, metal or other heavy material have been in use for a long time and have involved serious problems in production, transportation, erection, support and maintenance and have involved an expense that has often placed an unnecessarily heavy burden on those providing such markers and monuments.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a satisfactory and durable marker for designating a burial place which will avoid or greatly reduce the problems heretofore encountered.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved marker which is light in Weight to reduce transportation and handling costs, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is simple to erect so that it will be permanently supported in the position in which installed and which is attractive in appearance, durable and weather resistant.

A further object resides in the provision of an improved grave marker or monument provided with a face for a suitable inscription and which will satisfactorily and with solemn dignity perform the function desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a marker which is susceptible of prefabrication at a place of manufacture and which can be shipped unassembled to a place of use, and erected on location.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a marker or memorial susceptible of use by people in all walks of life, and within the nancial possibilities of all, so that the last resting place of the loved ones need not go unmarked on account of expense entailed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a marker susceptible of being produced of ferrous or non-ferrous metals and for which a satisfactory foundation or support may be provided in a wide variety of substances and designs.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a memorial device or grave marker illustrative of the invention;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal, vertical, section on a larger scale. 4

According to the present invention and as shown in the drawings, an excavation is made at the grave site and a base or foundation of concrete is made in the excavation with its bottom below the frost line at that particular locality. Upon this concrete base the memorial marker is erected. i Y

A drain pipe I8 held firmly in position by suitable material such as concretemix poured into suitable forms which may be made of sheet metal or formed in the earth, providing a concrete foundation, as indicated at I0 inFig. 2, having a rectangular upper portion 20 from the lower end of which a pier 2I extends downwardly into the earth.

Before the concrete mix has set a base member II with anchor bolts 22 and 23 secured thereto by nuts 24 and 25, threaded on the upper screw threaded ends of the bolts, is placed in position. The anchor bolts 22 and 23 are forced downwardly into the concrete mix until the nuts rest upon the upper surface of the bottom plate 26 of the basemember, access to the bolts being had through apertures 33, 34 inthe flat portion of the cover member 2'I at the lower ends of the columns I2 as illustrated in4 Fig. 2. After the anchor bolts have been forced into the concrete mix and the bottom plate 26` is brought to bear firmly upon the upper surface of the concrete mix, the structure is left in this condition until the concrete mix cures or sets, after which the remaining portions of the marker are assembled with the base I I.

It will be noted that the bottom plate 26 of thebase I I is provided around its edges with upstanding plates or an upstanding flange as indicated at 28 and that this flange is provided near its junction with the plateA with a plurality of breather openings 29. The cover plate 2l forms a top wall and is also provided around its edges with flange portions forming side and end walls, as indicated at 30, which are outwardly spaced from the flange portions 28 of bottom plate 26 as indicated at 3I to provide an opening around the bottom edge of the cover flange which communicates through the breather openings 29 with the interior of the base I I. 'Ihe bottom plate 26 and cover plate 2'I are preferably formed of suitable sheet metal of weather-resisting character, such as aluminum or copper, but may, if desired, be formed of a suitable ferrous sheet metal painted or otherwise treated to resist corrosion. Preferably the plates 26 and 21 are secured together by a weld joint around the upper edge of the flange 28 of bottom plate 26, such a joint being indicated at 32. After the concrete has set sufiiciently the tubular columns I2 are placed on the top of the cover plate or top wall 27 over the apertures 33 and 34 and are secured in position on the cover plate by suitable means, such as the screws 35, blind rivets, welding, etc. These columns I2 carry the table I3 which is also preferably of hollow metal construction having a bottom plate 36 and a top plate 31 spaced above the bottom plate and provided with flanged or flared edge portions, as indicated at 38, which Contact the edges of the bottom plate 36 and are secured thereto by a suitable weld joint, as indicated at 39. A suitable inscription is provided on the upper surface of the cover plate 37 by any suitable or desired means as by stamping the inscription into the plate, casting the plate in a mold having the inscription impressed therein, or engraving or etching the inscription into the surface of the plate. An inscription provided by raising portions of the upper surface of the plate 37 is indicated at 40.

The upper ends of the columns l2 are secured to the bottom plate 36 by suitable weld joints M and 42 and apertures 43 and 44 are provided in lthe bottom plate 36A of table I;3 at the upper ends of the columns I2. With this arrangement the interior of the table I?, the interiors of the columns I2 and the interior of the base II are all connected together and connected with the breather openingsv 2,9 and withA the upper end of thev drain pipe I8 so, that the atmospheric pressure Within the, hollow structure will be at all times equalized with the existing external atmospheric pressure and any moisture condensing in the interior of the structure will ow downwardly into the drain pipe and through the drain f pipe into the material surroundir-igl the bottom of the drain pipe.

In mild weather some or all of the condensed moisture may iiow out o f the lstructure through the breather openings 28 but in the Winter time,

particularly when the marker is. Surrounded. by snow or ice, the drainY pipe I8 is necessary to carry away any condensate Collecting in the mterior of the structure.

The marker Shown in perspective in Figi. l has a rectangular. base portion I l andi a substantially rectangular table portion i3 set diagonally of the base portion. This provides a neat4 and attractive form for the marker but various other arrangements may be used Without in anyway exceeding the scope of the invention. For eX- ample, if desired, a table I3 in Fig. 1 may bearranged with its edges parallel toA the edges of base II.

The entire structure with the exception of the concrete for the foundation maybe prefabricated at a place of manufacture and yassembled with the forms in a suit-able container or carton in which it may be shipped to the place of use. The structure, being of relatively thin, through durable metal, is light in weight so that the transportation costs vare moderate and the device may be easily transported by usual means.

The entire structure being formed of a few simple parts is very economical to manufacture so that its selling price can be well within the means of anyone ydesiring to erect a memorial such as a grave marker.

As the foundation is firmly located in the earth vand the structure above the foundation is extremelylight in weight, the structure will maintain its installed position Without any tendency to. tilt or fall over, and as it is made of weatherresisting materials and theV interior is ventilated and completely drained, there is no likelihood of 4 rapid corrosion or deterioration, and thus no definite maintenance is required.

1t will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing `and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A marker comprising a relatively fiat plate having an upright rim provided with spaced perforations, said plate being apertured for drainage purpose and for the reception of fastening elements, a second plate forming a cover for said rst plate and provided with a depending rim enclosing and spaced from the rim of said iirst plate, spaced tubular columns mounted on said second plate, a third vplate mounted on'said columns in spaced relation to the second plate, said second and third plates being provided with perforations for the circulation of :air through said columns, `and afourth plate disposed in spaced relation to said Vthird plate and connected adjacent its margin to-said third plate.

2. A marker having a 'foundation with a vertical dimension suflicient to` extend into the earth below the frost line when the marker is installed; a base supported on said'fou-ndation including a flanged bottom plate having breathing apertures therein and -a cover member with'iianges which overlie and are spaced` from thef flanges of the bottom plate; columns extend-ing upwardly. from said base and removably secured thereto.; a table supported on said columns, the interior of said table communicating with the interior of said b-ase through said columns, said table and said base having `apertures therein at the ends of said columns; and a drain pipe extending from the interior of said base downwardly through said foundation.

3. A memorial :marker comprising a hollow thin inet-al base including a flat bottom structure adapted to be mounted on afoundation; a hollow thin metal table having "an inscription carrying surface on the upper side thereof; means supporting said table on saidY base and connecting the interior of said table with the interior of said base to drain moisture condensate from said table; `and drainage means extending downwardly from the flat bottom structure and communicating with the interior of. said base.

WALTER M, OKERTLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES A'I'ENTS.

Number Name Date 1,086,346 Barrick Feb. 10, 1914 '1,136,274 Rigali T"- Apr. 20,1915 1,345,196 Kennedy et al. June 29, 192,0 1,533,250 Hutchins Apr. 14, 192.5 1,549,428 Barrick Aug. 1l, 1925 1,830,836 Hager Nov.V 10, 1931 1,903,907 Riemenschneider Apr. 18, 1933 1,982,432 Hull Nov. 27, 1934 2,082,773 Adams June 8, 1937 2,128,294 Gage r Aug. 30, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 648,944 France 1,928k 221,333 Switzerland 1942 

